Norsk Tipping will offer online poker – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio

– It is right that Norsk Tipping wants to have the opportunity to offer online poker in a responsible and safe framework, says Tonje Sagstuen, CEO of Norsk Tipping. Hobbyist and mother Mari Thorrud Skolem from Hvittingfoss has played poker for 16 years. She has played several final tables in the Norwegian Poker Championship and has also won some tournaments abroad. However, she had to rummage through the attic to find some dusty trophies. Skolem is happy that Norsk Tipping is finally making an offer to people like her. – If we trust that Norsk Tipping can deliver casino games, then we can trust that they can deliver poker in a safe way. If we don’t think they can do it, then there is something wrong with the whole model, says Skolem. Hobby player and mother Mari Thorrud Skolem hopes poker players will get a more responsible offer than they have today. Photo: PRIVAT Little safe today According to figures from Norsk Tipping, somewhere between 100,000 and 130,000 Norwegians play poker regularly. Despite the fact that in organized form you can only play it once a year. During the Norwegian Poker Championship. – I think it is part of Norsk Tipping’s social mission. Many people want to play poker. Then I think they should deliver it in a way that makes people want to play it, within safe limits, says Skolem. The only organized offer to poker players today happens once a year, during the poker NM. Photo: Sindre Thoresen Lønnes / news And Norsk Tipping agrees. That’s a lot of the reason why they now want to offer poker. – We see that the offer is getting worse and less safe for the players. Therefore, we believe that now is the time for us to offer online poker, says Sagstuen. There are today many hundreds of illegal poker clubs both physically and via apps, in addition to rogue foreign gaming companies. In March, the Storting decided that access to these companies should be blocked. Rules for poker in Norway In Norway, poker is considered a game with completely or partially random results. Poker games with stakes and prizes of financial value meet the conditions in the gambling definition, and are thus a gambling game that is covered by the Gambling Act cf. § 2. It is permitted to arrange poker with stakes and prizes of financial value within certain limits in the Gambling Act and the Gambling Regulations. It is illegal to market gambling without the necessary permission. There are no players who have permission to offer poker with stakes and prizes of financial value online in Norway. From 2015, NM in tournament poker was allowed under special conditions. It is permitted to arrange poker games without stakes and/or prizes of financial value, as this falls outside the definition of gambling and gambling legislation. Source: The Norwegian Lottery and Foundation Authority The Norwegian Lottery Authority has received many reports about players who accumulate large amounts of debt. It is these players that Norwegian betting wants to help by making an offer, says Sagstuen. – We believe that those who want to play poker will find a poker offer. If Norsk Tipping offers poker, the players will get an offer that is adapted to the requirements for accountability we have in Norway, says Sagstuen. Tonje Sagstuen, CEO of Norsk Tipping hopes this will make it safer for Norwegian poker players. Photo: Knut Røsrud / news Norsk Tipping has asked to offer both tournaments and so-called cash games. A change in the law is required If this is to become a reality, the law must be changed and a political process is therefore required. In other words, Norwegian players cannot expect to be dealt their first hand at Norsk Tipping any time soon. The Ministry of Culture and Equality has not yet taken a decision on whether Norsk Tipping will be allowed to offer online poker and in what form it will take place. – In addition to the change in the Gambling Act, a more detailed set of regulations must be prepared for online poker which ensures precisely that this becomes an attractive, but also responsible gambling offer, says State Secretary Erlend Hanstveit (Ap). State Secretary Erlend Hanstveit (Ap) in the Ministry of Culture and Equality. Photo: Ilja C. Hendel The ministry states that if they conclude that it is desirable for Norsk Tipping to offer online poker, it should be possible to establish a more detailed framework during the year. Polet and poker Gambling addiction Norway will follow the process of Norsk Tipping closely. They are currently most concerned that poker should not be used as a lure for more dangerous and addictive games. – We know that the foreign gambling companies do that. If poker is to be introduced in Norway, then it must be kept separate, says Magnus Pedersen in Gamblingaddict Norge. Hobby player Mari Thorrud Skolem hopes she can get a more responsible offer than the poker players have today. Photo: Hans-Kristian Rangnes / DKBU The president of the Norwegian Poker Association, Tobias Leknes is also one of Norway’s best players. Among other things, he has won three NM titles. The poker association has worked since its establishment in 2013 to provide Norwegians with a regulated poker offer. Leknes rejoices over the decision of Norsk Tipping. – That Norsk-Tipping wants to offer online poker is a big step in the right direction, says Leknes. – The development in recent years has been very sad for Norwegian poker players. Norwegians have been shut out of several of the most reliable and responsible foreign gaming companies that offer poker. Several have advocated that even greater softening is needed. Poker player Mari does not agree that this is a softening of the legislation. – I think it is a bit in the same way as if you say that Vinmonopolet had only sold spirits. There was also discussion about whether they should also sell champagne. Is it a softening then? she asks rhetorically. news states that the journalist in this case has participated in the NM in poker and was also a member of the Norwegian Poker Association. Published 10.06.2024, at 18.37



ttn-69